Novelty box with magnetic game board



March 1, 1966 P. VINCENT 3,237,941

NOVELTY BOX WITH MAGNETIC GAME BOARD Filed May 6, 1965 IMPREGNATED RU BER INVENTOR PHILLIP VINCENT United States Patent 3,237,941 NOVELTY BOX WITH MAGNETIC GAME BOARD Phillip Vincent, Norfolk, Va., assignor to Gen-Tee Corporation, Norfolk, Va., a corporation of Virginia Filed May 6, 1963, Ser. No. 278,076 Claims. (Cl. 273-9) The present invention relates to a novelty box having a hingedly connected magnetic game board, and has more particular reference to an improved novelty device in which there is provided a horizontally disposed magnetic game board hingedly disposed thereon and having game pieces of either magnetic material or material attracted by a magnetic field such as iron, mild steel or the like.

It is a paramount object of the invention to provide a simple and attractive novelty box having a hingedly and horizontally disposed cover thereon, in which the cover contains sufficient magnetic material for retaining in place certain game pieces while the cover is moved about its hinged connection to a substantially vertical position or to a position obtuse from that of the generally horizontal position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a jewelry box or cigar box having a novelty design, in which the top cover thereof comprises a game board resembling a billiard table or a pool table and having the appropriate number of balls constructed of magnetic material or magnetic field responsive material such as iron or mild steel, in which the balls are retained upon the game board while the cover is opened to a relatively obtuse position with respect to its normal horizontally closed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article of the class described in which the invention provides a unique conversation piece.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novelty device having a cover simulating a game board or table which is simple and durable in construction and can be manufactured in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

Novelty devices which contemplate the use of game boards as a cover device thereof, and novelty boxes which include a cover containing a simulated game table have been found objectionable due to the inability of the game pieces to maintain their position on the face of the game board or table in opposition to accidental or uncontrollable jarring, moving, shifting or opening of the cover of the novelty device, with the result that the game pieces are displaced or lost. If a game or activity is being performed upon the game board or table, there results an interruption by the inability of the players to return the game pieces to an original position on the face of the game board or table. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide means, without encumbering the game board or table, for securing the game pieces to an original position on the face of the board while the cover of the novelty device is conveniently opened and closed.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon full consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the novelty device constructed in accordance with the present invention for displaying a simulated pool table, and showing several game pieces or balls in position on the surface of the table;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a novelty box containing a simulated game table on the cover thereof, in which the cover is shown in the open position, and in which the novelty box is constructed in accordance with the present invention for displaying a simulated game table for billiards, and. showing several game pieces in position on the surface thereof;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged plan view of another em- 3,237,94l Patented Mar. 1, 1966 bodiment of the invention showing a simulated billiard table having a resilient material peripherally surrounding the play area thereof, and in which the resilient material contains magnetic material impregnated therein; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-section taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3, and showing the essential structure of the magnetic impregnated resilient material forming a portion of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a novelty box 10 having legs 12 and a hingedly mounted cover 14. The cover is constructed and arranged to provide a game playing area that resembles or simulates a standard game playing surface, and the game playing area is shown as bounded by edge portions 16, 16. The game playing area may be provided to include a surface constructed of felt material 18 to further resemble the standard game playing surfaces that are provided for the game being simulated.

More particularly, FIG. 1 shows a game playing surface area in which the game being simulated is pool, while FIGS. 2 and 3 show that the game being simulated may be billiards. This requires that FIG. 1 necessarily includes ball pockets 20.

FIG. 2 is representative of the invention showing that the game playing area on the cover of the novelty box 10 may be hingedly opened to provide access to the interior of the novelty box. Within the novelty box is a receptacle area for cigars, trinkets, other types of novelties, or jewelry. While the novelty box 10 may be moved about and when the game cover 14 of the novelty box is in opened position, magnetic material 26 may be provided throughout portions of the game playing area to secure in place the game pieces, which in the instance of the games shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are billiard or pool balls 28 of simulated sizes and colors. The magnetic portions 26 may be comprised of resilient materials such as rubber having been impregnated with magnetic particles so that the properties of the material 26 are essentially resilient as well as being predominantly and substantially magnetic sufiiciently to retain the balls 28 in fixed relation thereto while the novelty box is being handled from one position to another as well as when the game cover 14 is in its relatively opened position. The magnetic characteristic of the material 26 is sufficient to enable the balls to be retained to the magnetic material 26 even though the game cover 14 is swung or extended to a substantially obtuse angle with respect to its normally horizontally disposed position.

It is deemed within the teaching of the present invention to provide a magnetic sheet material throughout the substantial portions of the game playing area such as sheet 32 which forms a part of the game cover 14. The characteristics of the sheet 32 may include a magnetic characterization either to provide the sole magnetic effect for retaining the game pieces in place, or supplemental to the magnetic effect of the magnetic material 26 to aid in the association of the game pieces in their respective places while the game cover 14 is in a relatively inclined position. Magnetic materials, such as 26 and sheet 32, are readily available from commercial sources, and may be readily adapted to use in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

The game pieces 28 are such that they are constructed of iron, soft steel or other magnetic responsive materials or, alternatively, these pieces 28 may be constructed of magnetic material that is polarized to attract the magnetic field effects of the magnetic material 26 and sheet 32.

Also within the contemplation of the present invention and providing similar advantages is an embodiment that provides a resilient material impregnated with iron particles which would be sufficient to retain magnetized game pieces on the game board.

It is therefore seen that the advantages of the present invention are satisfied in the new and unique arrangement of structural elements which constitutes the new novelty box.

The apparatus of the present invention is thus seen to be highly advantageous in providing a simulated game board having pieces that are readily movable thereabout while the game board is generally horizontally disposed, and providing means to securely position the game pieces on the game board while the game board is positioned in a relatively inclined position from the horizontal position.

It should be understood that the specific apparatus herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as many changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A novelty box for receiving and containing cigars, jewelry and the like, comprising a hingedly connected cover mounted on said box, a portion of said cover containing a magnetic field producing material therein and said cover having a molding extending continuously around said cover to generally retain balls from rolling off of said cover when said cover is generally horizontally disposed, and said balls being of material sufficiently responsive to said magnetic field producing material to be retained upon said cover when said cover is in a substantially inclined position, said molding on said cover containing a resilient material in which is imbedded said magnetic material.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said cover is constructed and arranged to simulate a standard game table.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said game table is billiards.

4. The invention of claim 2 wherein said cover has ball-receiving pockets, and said game table is pool.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said cover is constructed of magnetic sheet material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 156,389 10/1874 Stiles 2735.1 275,923 4/1883 Kuschke 273-59 1,384,057 7/1921 Fleet. 2,414,653 1/ 1947 Lookholder. 2,655,195 10/1935 Curtis. 2,665,912 1/1954 Juran 273-118 2,946,592 7/1960 Post 273136 X 3,107,436 10/1963 Edwards 46-241 X RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A NOVELTY BOX FOR RECEIVING AND CONTAINING CIGARS, JEWELRY AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING A HINGEDLY CONNECTED COVER MOUNTED ON SAID BOX, A PORTION OF SAID COVER CONTAINING A MAGNETIC FIELD PRODUCING MATERIAL THEREIN AND SAID COVER HAVING A MOLDING EXTENDING CONTINUOUSLY AROUND SAID COVER TO GENERALLY RETAIN BALLS FROM ROLLING OFF OF SAID COVER WHEN SAID COVER IS GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED, AND SAID BALLS BEING OF MATERIAL SUFFICIENTLY RESPONSIVE TO SAID MAGNETIC FIELD PRODUCING MATERIAL TO BE RETAINED UPON SAID COVER WHEN SAID COVER IS IN A SUBSTANTIALLY INCLINED POSITION, SAID MOLDING ON SAID COVER CONTAINING A RESILIENT MATERIAL IN WHICH IS EMBEDDED SAID MAGNETIC MATERIAL. 